Means for connecting latch handles and shanks



June 29 1926.

L.. w. GATES MEANS FOR CONNECTING LATCH HANDLES AND SHANKS Filed Dec. 4, 1923 Patented .lune 29, i926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS VJ. GATES, OF NEW HAVEN, CCN'NECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO C. COWLES 8L COM- PANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CGEPORATIUT OF CONNECTICUT.

MEANS FOR CONNECTING- LATCH EANDLES AND SHANKS.

Application le. December s, 1923. Serial No. 678,386.

This invention relates to a method and means for securing two Ielements together. In its broad aspects it is of general application although I have shown and described it as applied for the purpose of securing a latch operating spindle in the shank ot a handle.

It is an object ot the invention to provide an improved method and means ot securing two elements Vtogether which will be very simple, in which the required operationsare few in number and leasily and quickly performed, and which will securely tasten the two elements together.

-`vVith the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the method and means of securing two articles together which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, simllar reference characters being employed throughout the various figures to indicate corresponding elements. In this drawing,

Fig. l is a side elevation'ot' a door handle and a connectionV between the shank of this handle and a latch operating spindle made according to my invention shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a. transverse section thereot1 substantially on line Q-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to the sectiona portion of Fig. l showing a slightly didiervent construction of shank.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section thereof substantially on line P-4 rof Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the inventionas used with a cylindrical inner element, and

Fig. 6 is a tranverse section thereof substantially on line 6 6 ot Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. l and 2 in which I have shown the invention as applied tor the purpose ot securing a latch operating spindle to the shank of a door handle, l0 represents any desired type of door operat` ing handle. The handle shown is a type of door handle now generally employed tor automobile doors and comprises a bar ot metal l1 secured to a metal shank l2. Secured to the opposite Iends of the bar are nishing ferrules 13, and mounted on the shank at a distance from the bar is a collar 14. In order to give a. desired iinish the bar and the shank are covered with a rubber composition l5 which is then vulcanized giving a hard strong covering for the bar and the shank. Surrounding the shank and engaging the collar lll is an escutcheon plate 16 which is secured to the surface or" a. door in the usual manner by suitable screws, not shown. In the showing in Fig` l the shank is a tubular element having an opening 17 extending longitudinally therethrough, but my invention is equally applicable 'for the purpose et securing a spindle to a solid shank. 'l he latch operating spindle is shown at i8 and is the usual square spindle. Various means have been devised tor securingv this spindle to the shank ot the handle, but they are expensive and it is ditlicult to secure a simple and cheap connection which will not work loose under ein tended operation. It is also dilcult when making the connection to get the shank and spindle in correct alignment.

I have devised a method and means for securing these elements together in which the operations required are 'few in number, are very simple and easily performed, in which the elements may be easily aligned and which when completed will securely hold the elements together so that they will not work loose. Extending from the inner end of the shank is an opening i9 forming a socket into which the end of the spindle is inserted. rIhe opening is cylindricaland the usual latch spindle is square so that it the spindle is of such a si/.e that the corners engage the inner surface otthe socket there are spaces lett between the flat sides oiE the spindle and the walls ot the socket. In making the joint I cut or roughen the inner surface ofi the side walls ot the socket to make this surface uneven. A convenient method ot doing this is to insert a tap into the socket which is somewhat smaller than that which would be used to cut a complete thread. and with this uap to cut in the surface ot the socket a shallow spiral groove :20. The outer 'surface ot the shank is also made uneven as by knurling or any other desired method, but a convenient and satistactory easy way of doing this is to press small grooves or notches 2l in the edges ot the spindle. rllhe space between the shank and spindle is filled with rubber in a plastic condition and the rubber then vulcanized by heating. The vulcanizing` operation as is well-known makes the rubber very hard, and it makes a very tight and streng connection between the spindle and the shank. In tact, it has been 

